In the beginning, my life was one of uncertainty

In the beginning, my life was one of uncertainty. At the age of fourteen while in my freshman year of high school, I began hanging out with the wrong crowd. I experimented with alcohol, weed and other substances. I even tried smoking cigars because some of the kids in the group were doing it.

I was very naïve, vulnerable and did almost everything the other kids in the group were doing just because I wanted to fit in. I dated drug dealers just so I could get free drugs. I dated guys in gangs and even joined one myself for a short period.

I was heading down a path that was either going to land me behind bars or having my family shedding tears over my casket.

I remember when I was fifteen going into my parents’ bedroom, while my mother was folding clothes. I sat on the corner of the bed, looked down at the rug and said to my mother in a soft, nervous voice, “I don’t think I’m going to make it to see my eighteenth birthday”. My mom stood silent for a moment. She stopped folding and just held a t-shirt in her hands and replied, “Oh yea! And why do you say that?” “I don’t know!” I responded as I slowly got off the bed and walked out.

I don’t think my mother knew what I was saying or maybe she thought I was kidding. I don’t remember we ever retouched that conversation again. My mom at that stage in our lives didn’t have too many resources at her disposition.

While in my head I didn’t think I’d live to see my eighteenth birthday, my nararator was just getting started on rewriting the story of my life. Although, He had to make a lot of edits, due to me stepping out of line many times, I am grateful for the amazing journey He has taken me on.